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Just over four years ago, Allan and Diane Potter, of Dunedin, bought electric bikes which birthed more than 11,000km of new adventures for the retired couple.
Mrs Potter said they were both avid riders before buying e-bikes, but the hilly suburbs restricted where they could ride and it had changed their lifestyle.
"We did a lot of walking but that has slipped into the background.
"Old age" had influenced their decision to upgrade their rides.
"We certainly wouldn’t have biked the kilometres we’ve done... now we can do the hills."
Since buying their e-bikes, they had covered many of the country’s cycle trails. Their Christmas adventures included Te Anau, Arrowtown and Central Otago.
"One of the good ones we did was a coast-to-coast trail [87km Twin Coast Cycle Trail] from Opua to Hokianga Harbour over three days."
Another jaunt included a two-day trip into Milford Sound while the borders and tour bus operators were closed.
"That was the best ride we’ve ever done. We had no traffic, no buses — it was amazing to bike in there without traffic."
It was on the Milford adventure Mrs Potter’s 68.8km down-hill glide from the Homer Tunnel became a speed record.
"I’m never going to do it again; that was stupid when I think about it."
But a cruising speed between 20-30kmh was normal on their average 30km daily return trip into town.
"And there’s got to be a coffee shop somewhere."
They had a new appreciation for the surrounding scenery.
"You’ve got time to take it in."
Two years ago she was on her bike eight weeks after a hip replacement.
" ... that was the best thing I could’ve done for my hip ... the rehabilitation was great."
Mr Potter said the health benefits would be the greatest reason he would recommend anyone considering buying an e-bike.
Invercargill’s Wensley Cycles owner Rob McMurdo said he had noticed most electric bike sales were to the "boomer" generation.
"The baby-boomers that are getting out on bikes these days are doing phenomenal miles — like thousands of ks, because they can.
"It’s quite refreshing really because they are not giving up on biking ... they are doing magical things.
In the past, many gave up cycling around their 60s.
"But now people were carrying on into their 70s and 80s and having an awesome time. It’s changed people’s lives ... [they’re] going on adventures they’d never dreamed of," he said.
Entry level e-bikes started about $3500.
Buying a reliable brand was paramount as parts were not available on some cheaper models. The quality of the bike often influenced how much a rider would use it, Mr McMurdo said.
E-conversions to a standard bicycle were possible, but he believed they were not as successful as a purpose-built models.
"... You will never buy a more complete, well-balanced bike as an electric bike that has been designed and built around the motor and battery."
If people said, ‘I like the idea, but the price makes me feel sick’ — keep thinking about it.
"I say to my customers, ‘if you can’t see the value in this bike, just walk away’.
"Because it’s not worth doing it in a cheap way, it will just let you down.
"It’s one of those situations you’ve got to do it right or done bother at all."
"If you do it right, you could have a ball," he said.
"People have come back to me and said, ‘that was the best advice you could’ve given me because it made me think’,"
He recommended to those who did not have the finance to buy, they could hire e-bikes from holiday destinations.
- Workride.co.nz offers e-bike buyers a system where a portion of pre-tax wages are diverted towards a purchase.
By Toni McDonald